ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the post-mortem brain histopathology in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods The medical records and cerebral autopsy tissue of nine patients with SLE autopsied during 1956--2000 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were collected and reviewed.Results Nine patients were all female and the average age was (29±11) years.Eight out of nine patients clinically presented with neurological manifestations.Brain histopathology changes were identified as follow:brain parenchyma change was shown in eight cases (8/9),cerebral hernia in six cases (6/9),cerebral hemorrhage in four cases (4/9),infarction in three cases (3/9),ventricular dilation in three cases (3/9),meningitis in two cases (2/9) and vasculopathy in one case (1/9).Vasculitis was not shown in any patients.Conclusion The brain histopathology in SLE includes vasculopathy,infarction,hemorrhage,infection,meningitis,ventricular dilation,cerebral hernia,brain parenchyma change,etc.Among the above changes,brain parenchyma changes,cerebral hernia and hemorrhage are the most commonly shown,while vasculitis is uncommonly presented.SLE patients with brain histopathology changes may even without clinically manifestation.All patients with SLE should be alert to neurological involvement.